Top 10 Morey Trade Targets

The Opening Tip
 

Hello & Happy Almost Weekend - It's the Corner Three!

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Oh Yeah, The Sixers

Questions at the 20+ Game Mark!

1. What kind of team are the Sixers?

Without a doubt they're deeper than they've been in quite some time. To me, right now atleast, they are a better offensive than defensive team and that's a bit surprising but I think as the season continues to progress and they add maybe one more wing or 50/50 backup guard things will even out. 

2. Has the Mad Max 2nd star question been answered?

If the all-star game was today he'd be part of the starting backcourt with the other Tyrese so I'd say a resounding YES.

3. Does Tobias finish the season a Sixer?

He does not, he ends up in a deal, possibly to a third team that can either eat the salary or would actually like to give him a try or both!

4. Marcus Morris or Roco?

Both. IDC IDC IDC. I waited too long for a Morris brother to be a Sixer and in the grand scheme, this team in May and June will only be as good as Jo, Max and maybe whoever the third is. 

5. How Long has Pat Bev been a Sixer?

SInce 2017 in our hearts. 

This Week's Top 10! Morey Trade Targets Edition

10. Delon Wright
09. Monte Morris
08. Kelly Olynyk
07. Pascal Siakam (Conditional if Tobias stays/gets routed somewhere)
06. Buddy Hield
05. Terry Rozier
04. Dorian Finney-Smith
03. Zach LaVine
02. OG Anunoby
01. Alex Caruso

Mike's Corner... Patrick Beverley And Philadelphia

Every week, Spike or Mike is going to write a column for the #CornerThree. It's MIke's week, and he's talking about Patrick Beverley.

Patrick Beverley and Philadelphia. There may not exist a more perfect match between player & fanbase in the history of sports. So much so that it feels unfathomable that he hadn't played for the Sixers until now. 

22 games in, Pat Bev has provided all of the trademark Pat Bev Things:

- pestering, sweltering, performance art defense

- tremendous crowdwork 

- herky jerky floaters over an open-mouthed big

- giving a player the perfect nickname that indicated he just learned how to spell his name right before he got traded

Especially with Executive Vice President of Strategic Dog Mentality PJ Tucker's office left vacant so he can wither away for two guaranteed seasons on the Clippers rotting bench (in favor of them playing more of Mike Guy Kobe Brown, btw), Pat Bev has a very useful role to fill on this team. Both on the court, where he's solid enough as a ballhandler to earn regular rotation minutes, and off the court, where he's been an automatic soundbite and energy source and future Joel Embiid "Lock The Fuck In Brother" After An Early Timeout Down 18-8 Pump-Up Guy.

The thing that will determine whether he's Playoff Pat or Bench Celebration Bev is the thing he wasn't doing for the first few weeks of the season. The thing that every player who endeavors to line up alongside Joel Embiid must be able to do. The thing that new arrivals to the Sixers are mystically prevented from doing until they meet some sort of sphynx-like evil spirit in the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center and answer these riddles three. A "jump shot". 

And Pat, as is local custom, started out slow. In his first 15 games as a Sixer, he shot 2-19 from deep. He hesitated, he record scratched, he attacked closeouts that weren't there. Like, we already have a Tobias. When Pat did shoot, he was perpetually short on everything. There's just no way he can be in the playoff rotation playing that way. It felt like more than a fluky month, because that's how his career his been trending the last few years -- after 7 seasons averaging 39% on threes taking 5.5 per 36, his percentages and attempts have dipped for three straight seasons. 

But urging from Nick Nurse, and Joel Embiid, and a city of Pat Bev Types in the crowd seemed to sink in, because in the last 7 games, he's been letting that baby rip: 13-29, good for 45% on 4+ threes per game. He's firing it up confidently, not missing short, and he's been rewarded with more playing time because of it. And arguably nothing gets the home crowd louder than when Pat Bev accomplishes something on either end, or even tries but fails to accomplish something. Dunks are cool, but pressuring an All-NBA player 8 inches taller than him until the refs apologetically call a foul is the red meat that gets the arena going. 

He's not the most aesthetically pleasing player, but we're not the most aesthetically pleasing fanbase. And if he keeps being a willing shooter, an effectively spunky defender, and a press conference beer drinker, he will have earned that 9th spot in the playoff rotation and a chance to live in Jayson Tatum's ribcage for 8-10 minutes in a second round series.

Peace, Love and Thanks Go see some Christmas lights, Call a friend               

                                                          -Zo